Blob Mckenzie wrote:Have to go with Ritchie if the top 5 go as expected. I hope TL or the manager at the time inquire about the #2 pick especially if the Islanders do the smart thing and shoot their 2014 pick to Buffalo. Not sure what the Sabres would want from Vancouver besides the #6 pick .

I would like to see one of the Sams end up in the barfing whale this June. Both of these guys project as top 6 centres and Vancouver has exactly one of those type prospects in its entire organization. So while the Canucks need offensive forwards at all positions the wingers are a bit easier to find.

I will be a bit concerned if the Canucks pick Ehlers or Kapanen . Nice young players but this team needs both size and skill.

Some guy from THN was on TEAM Radio and suggested the Canucks might look at Nylander. Said he had about as much offensive potential as anyone in this draft but there are questions about his work rate.

On the small side though no ? I hear he is a very skilled player, admittedly seen nothing but highlights so I can't judge. The couple games I have seen Ritchie and Dal Colle as well as Ekblad I have come away impressed. Ditto for the Sams . Virtanen I am not sure about. He looks like he has the goods but towards the end of the year and playoffs he really slowed down.

Well, I'd be concerned about the Silver Spoons factor (BTW, I'm not referring to little Ricky Schroeder of the Canucks) -- given that he is the son of a former NHLer i.e. work rate/ethic. But the same has been said about "Johnny Football" and how he will project in the NFL but you know, some guys have that certain "it" factor, you know.

Nuckertuzzi wrote:The challenge is trying figure what version of the Twins will be back next year. Is it Torts' coaching that damaged their game, is it injuries, or is it simply father time catching up to them? Who knows, but if the Twins of this season return next year, I'm all for not being competitive because there's no point. This team is and will be as good as the Twins go and if they are indeed done, we'll just have to accept that reality, choke on their salaries and suck for a few more years to build for the team that comes after their contracts end.

If the Twins we saw the past couple weeks return for a FULL season, then there might be a possibility of retooling the team into a competitive one again.

The twins are not done. They perform well when on the national team*, so I'd say the problem has to be either the system played or their line mate(s). You saw a flash of the old twins in the last few games when the score didn't matter. Not sure, did Torts change the system in those games? Did he tell them to just go out and have fun? Any way, with a good rest this summer and a new coach next fall, chances are the twins bounce back and become 80 point players again.

Blob Mckenzie wrote:On the small side though no ? I hear he is a very skilled player, admittedly seen nothing but highlights so I can't judge. The couple games I have seen Ritchie and Dal Colle as well as Ekblad I have come away impressed. Ditto for the Sams . Virtanen I am not sure about. He looks like he has the goods but towards the end of the year and playoffs he really slowed down.

Ritchie is very enticing for me, but I worry about him translating that physical dominance to an NHL level. He's playing against teenagers at 230lbs and dominating, I don't know if he will maintain that dominance against NHL defenders. Someone that large has to be seriously considered, though I do worry we're going to lack balance if all we take are large, physical forwards.

I'm liking what I'm hearing about Nikolaj Ehlers. Yes, he's slightly built, but he finished 4th in the Q in goal-scoring and 4th in points, apparently not playing with Drouin at even strength. He's drawn some comparisons to Bure and Patrick Kane. I think with the size we've already accumulated (Horvat, Jensen, Gaunce, Kassian, Mathias) up front that we can afford to add some dynamic play up there. Between Ehlers and Shinkaruk we could have two very dangerous snipers with speed to burn up front.

Is Nick Ritchie - Alex Stojanov 2? Big tough power forward comes with a bum shoulder and concussions? I seem to recall that Stojanov had the same type of injury bug Ritchie had prior to getting drafted. He will probably end up being a middle if the road player like his brother Brett down in Dallas

Ehlers, Nylander, Kapanen, Fabbri - too small and slight

Perlini - Benoit Pouliot 2

Virtanen - David Booth

Tuch - Famous Canucks 2nd round pick - American Rob Woodward

Fleury - Luke Schenn

I only want Sam Reinhart

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

Blob Mckenzie wrote:On the small side though no ? I hear he is a very skilled player, admittedly seen nothing but highlights so I can't judge. The couple games I have seen Ritchie and Dal Colle as well as Ekblad I have come away impressed. Ditto for the Sams . Virtanen I am not sure about. He looks like he has the goods but towards the end of the year and playoffs he really slowed down.

Ritchie is very enticing for me, but I worry about him translating that physical dominance to an NHL level. He's playing against teenagers at 230lbs and dominating, I don't know if he will maintain that dominance against NHL defenders. Someone that large has to be seriously considered, though I do worry we're going to lack balance if all we take are large, physical forwards.

I'm liking what I'm hearing about Nikolaj Ehlers. Yes, he's slightly built, but he finished 4th in the Q in goal-scoring and 4th in points, apparently not playing with Drouin at even strength. He's drawn some comparisons to Bure and Patrick Kane. I think with the size we've already accumulated (Horvat, Jensen, Gaunce, Kassian, Mathias) up front that we can afford to add some dynamic play up there. Between Ehlers and Shinkaruk we could have two very dangerous snipers with speed to burn up front.

I'm all for Ritchie assuming the top 5 goes as expected - if one of them drop then pick him, otherwise Ritchie's skillset is too difficult to find. The thing about him is he's actually skilled, not just big like a number of guys his size in junior. He's a very good skater and stickhandler, has a great shot as well. Obviously he's only 18 so will need to get stronger and in better condition but given his size I can see him playing at 225-230 when he's fully developed. Will just have less bodyfat and more muscle.

A guy like Ehlers I like as well, just not sure he will be able to translate his game to the NHL as well. He's speed, speed, speed - a very fast and good skater. He's also 160 pounds and will need at least a year, maybe two, to get up to the size he needs to be to make the NHL. He doesn't play with Drouin at ES but does on the PP and that helps, though Ehlers can score by himself no question. My thought with him is it's much easier to find a smallish, skilled, fast winger than it is a big, skilled, mean power forward type. Ritchie is a rare player, Ehlers not so much, so I take Ritchie over Ehlers for that reason.

The other guy is Nylander - he's a very good player who had a great second half of the season. With a very good U18 he could be in the mix.

Really I'm happy with any of Ritchie, Ehlers or Nylander - though I'd be happiest with Ritchie.

RoyalDude wrote:Is Nick Ritchie - Alex Stojanov 2? Big tough power forward comes with a bum shoulder and concussions? I seem to recall that Stojanov had the same type of injury bug Ritchie had prior to getting drafted. He will probably end up being a middle if the road player like his brother Brett down in Dallas

Ehlers, Nylander, Kapanen, Fabbri - too small and slight

Perlini - Benoit Pouliot 2

Virtanen - David Booth

Tuch - Famous Canucks 2nd round pick - American Rob Woodward

Fleury - Luke Schenn

I only want Sam Reinhart

Again - where is this 'bum shoulder' and 'concussions' coming from? He's had one concussion, 2 years ago, and played almost the whole season afterwards. He also had one shoulder issue, last year, and has played almost every game since. He's no more injury prone than any other player - on HFBoards they seem to think he's Brett Lindros for whatever reason - most of the posters on there don't do any homework so I'm not surprised.

Nick is much more skilled than Brett Ritchie, and he's much meaner. Brett is almost as big but plays a much less physical game. He fights guys like Dane Fox who are smaller than him. Nick is about 20 pounds heavier and fights guys like 6'7" Hunder Smith. Brett Ritchie in his draft year had 45 points in 53 games (24 goals) playing with guys like Ryan Strome, Dougie Hamilton and Nail Yakupov - he was traded about halfway through the season and was nowhere near the highest scorer on either team. Nick Ritchie had 74 points in 61 games (39 goals) in his draft season, was easily the highest scorer on his team.

RoyalDude wrote:Is Nick Ritchie - Alex Stojanov 2? Big tough power forward comes with a bum shoulder and concussions? I seem to recall that Stojanov had the same type of injury bug Ritchie had prior to getting drafted. He will probably end up being a middle if the road player like his brother Brett down in Dallas

No, but I'd move the 6th, Edler and Hansen for E. Kane and their 2nd rnd pick. The Jets get back two roster players, one with big "potential" in Edler if he regains form and they can use the 6th pick to draft one of those "potential" power forward types and sell that to their fan base.

No, but I'd move the 6th, Edler and Hansen for E. Kane and their 2nd rnd pick. The Jets get back two roster players, one with big "potential" in Edler if he regains form and they can use the 6th pick to draft one of those "potential" power forward types and sell that to their fan base.

The drop off point is after the 5th pick and Ritchie seems to possess the best intangibles in the next tier. Even if he doesn't pan out offensively, he could be a good third line mucked type

Virtanen has Booth written all over him. He doesn't use his linemates, terrible passer. Very one dimensional. Worry about his puck possession and Hockey IQ

Don't want any small mason Raymond's, not for the western comference

I also like Perlini not just because of his size and speed but he apparently has a high IQ hockey sense and great puck possession game. You need to be smart in todays game.'Can't stand meatheads who give up the puck early like your Booths.

After that in tier 2 I like Tuch, another giant with skill and smarts.

Ehlers, Kapanen, Nylander,'Fabbri and Ho sang strike me as abunch of Sam Gagner and Coglianos and not your mini bulls like Brenden Gallgher and Brad Marchand. No thank you

After Tuch I like McCann.

Draisaitl I'd like but he strikes me as the potential bust in the tier 1 group. Dal Colle I'd take ahead of Draisaitl and not a real big fan of Dal Cole either.

I'd be happy with Ritchie. Although I worry he ends up a meh player like his bro and ends up with career ending bad shoulders on s he starts hanging with the men of the NHL like Stojanov

Im with Craig Button, Virtanen is a late first rounder or a second rounder.

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

It's not off ice, party animal issues with Evander Kane, it's how he's in the dressing room. Apparently not a great teammate, tough to coach. Is a bit of a Barry Bond prima Donna in the dressing room. Thats what I've learned. Marches to the beat of his own drum which drives coaches crazy. I'd be kind of leery bringing that into the dressing room

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

RoyalDude wrote:It's not off ice issues with Evander Kane, it's how he's in the dressing room. Apparently not a great teammate, tough to coach. Is a bit of a Barry Bond prima Donna in the dressing room. Thats what I've learned. Marches to the beat of his own drum which drives coaches crazy. I'd be kind of leery bringing that into the dressing room

So he's kinda like RD round these parts, but all is gravy around here so he should be alright in Rogers Arena.